The NFL rule allowing defenders to hit quarterbacks in the scheme until they are "clearly out of the play'' makes sense. Why should defenders have to give quarterbacks a pass when they are essentially another running back during handoffs and fake handoffs?

In other words, defenders can and should be allowed to hit quarterbacks running read-option plays unless the quarterback, as interpreted by officials, is "clearly out of the play.'' Essentially, defenders aren't allowed to bulldoze quarterbacks when it's obvious that they aren't carrying the football.

"I believe that when a quarterback is handing a ball off or faking a ball — in the read-option case, he's reading on an option play and he's as defenseless as a quarterback who's in the act of throwing," Harbaugh told the media.

Oh well, coach. You can't have it both ways. You can't have your quarterback gaining significant yardage while making the proper read, and also mandate defenders keep their hands off your quarterback in the split second after he decides to hand off the ball.

What are defenders to do? Stop and ask the quarterback if he's carrying the football before hitting him?

"Hey Colin, just wanted to check: Did you hand that ball off, or is that you carrying it toward the end zone? Figured I'd ask before tackling you.''

I'm not sure that strategy would work.

Harbaugh calls the rule "flawed and a bit biased.''

Yeah, it's biased against allowing quarterbacks to do whatever they please without getting touched.

If you don't want your quarterback getting hit, have him drop back and throw it like, say, Peyton Manning.

Broncos linebacker Danny Trevathan, the kid who dropped the ball short of the goal line the other night: How does that happen?

I can't think of a legitimate reason for a player to intentionally drop the football before reaching the end zone. By comparison, I can even see players hot-dogging it on the way to scoring, whether it be some stupid dance or finger-wagging routine or somersault into the end zone. We see that too often, and as horrible a message as it sends to kids learning the value of sportsmanship, such celebrations generally don't cost their team six points.

But dropping the ball shy of the goal line? How do you explain that? And how does a coach keep his sanity watching one of his players do such a thing? I think I would have lost my mind — what's left of it, anyway — right there on the sideline if one of my players did that.

Yet there have been at least four occasions, remarkably twice by Eagles receiver DeSean Jackson, when players have lost touchdowns while heading toward the end zone all alone. Who can forget Cowboys lineman Leon Lett holding out the ball in his right hand in celebration as he approached the goal line during Super Bowl XXVII, only to have a hustling Bills receiver named Don Beebe knock it from Lett's hands, naturally costing me a $100 pool square.

Jackson, though, deserves a special award for similarly dropping the ball during an NFL game, and falling short of the end zone while all alone after performing a somersault during a college game.

Just amazing.

"It was a young mistake. I was just in the moment," Trevathan said afterward. "I thought I was in the end zone. Next time I'm going to hold the ball up high and give it to a fan or something. But it's not going to happen again. I'm growing from it and I'm not going to let anybody stop me."

Why would anybody try to stop Trevathan? He has shown that he's fully capable of stopping himself.

I simply refuse to believe the possibility of J.R. Smith's five-game suspension being tied to marijuana use.

Not our J.R. Smith.

He's too straight-laced to do something like that.

This is about the time when Ryan Braun, personally calling fans to apologize for his PED use, wishes he played for the Rays.

He would have that season-ticket list knocked out in a couple hours.

All seriousness, if we are seeking ways for Braun to sincerely apologize, calling every season-ticket holder would seem to be a pretty impressive method.

I realize by now that I probably should be receiving some kind of promotional stipend from the Bilal Powell camp, but I see this guy having a big year.

I also like Chris Ivory in the Jets' backfield.

Imagine if Geno Smith got himself some confidence and his offensive line blocked the way it is supposed to block?

Imagine if the Jets got a little something going early?...

Oh, never mind.

Mike Napoli's beard is starting to scare me more than Jack Nicholson in "The Shining.''

Archie Manning said he feared his son would never play again after neck surgeries. But I'm guessing Peyton's opponents feared he would play again.

There was this photo of tennis star Andy Murray screaming in frustration, mouth wide open and jaws clenched with both hands raised in a "Why Me!!!?" stance. That is precisely the reaction I have almost every night following my fantasy baseball team.